Death game horror films aren't always viewed as more than blood and gore fests. There's nothing wrong with enjoying horror that isn't trying to say anything deep. But at its core, horror will always be a political genre, and every subgenre has the capability to offer plenty of social commentary. In terms of a film like Would You Rather (2012), it has more than enough to say.
Would You Rather follows a struggling young woman named Iris (Brittany Snow Brittany Snow) who is invited to play a dangerous game of would you rather by a rich man. When the games start turning deadly, Iris and the other guests are forced to see what they'll do to receive financial help. It's a film that doesn't rely on supernatural circumstances and is merely about what desperation will make people do.
In our current time, the rich continue to get richer and late stage capitalism is an unfortunate reality. An uncomfortable truth is that the game Shepard Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs Jeffrey Combs) invites the guests to is something people in real life would consider. Especially due to the lack of resources, medical debts, food prices skyrocketing, the current Trump administration stripping away rights for marginalized communities, and so on. The idea of a philanthropist offering to pay off debts and secure medical transplants would be a dream come true for some.
At the start of the film, Iris is visibly struggling to secure work to help pay for her brother Raleigh (Logan Miller)'s leukemia treatment. Both of their parents have since passed away, and they are barely able to afford to live in general. Therefore, when Iris is offered the opportunity by Raleigh's oncologist, to participate in Shepard Lambrick's game at his dinner party, she takes it upon prompting. Despite her hesitance and clear discomfort with the dinner itself, Iris shoves down her gut instincts and attends. And it brings her nothing but misery by the time the film is over.
Would You Rather is dreary in its atmosphere, tone, and color editing. There's no happiness or hope to be found in the world of the film, and it only aids to the events that play out. Just like our real world, the film doesn't promise a happy ending to struggles or the ugliness of the world. Iris and the other guests aren't guaranteed money either and that is made clear when, before the games even begin, they're given the chances to compromise themselves. For Iris, it's merely about her vegetarian diet and for another guest, he's given money to break his sobriety.
As the film carries on, the games get more and more deadly and Shepard receives no comeuppance. He's not a slasher villain that's vanquished by the final girl or boy at the end. Instead, he's a rich man with lots of influence who will and does get away with the events of the dinner. Iris and the other guests try to fight against a situation that's only meant to hold them down. The game represents the system and how the wealthy will and do whatever they want.
Of course, Iris is the last remaining survivor, all due to shooting one of her newly made friends dead to secure her money, and the trauma she endures is all for nothing in the end. Her brother does have a bone marrow transplant secured, but when she gets home, she finds Raleigh dead in his bed. Rather than forcing her to continue paying for all his medical bills, Raleigh decides to end his life by swallowing all of his medication. It's an ugly ending, but it suits the themes of the film.
Living in our world often means doing what it takes to survive and not be entirely crushed by the system. If you're marginalized in numerous ways, it's even worse. But in the case of those who are poor or working class, the film is a reminder of how capitalism and the ultra wealthy pits people against each other. Shepard treats his dinner guests like pawns and mistreats them for his own amusement. The game costs people their lives and Shepard could easily help them all without it breaking his bank. Instead, he acts like they have to earn basic help and resources to live.
The healthcare system in the US is always under extreme critique in Would You Rather. Iris not having familial support for Raleigh or any medical programs to be entered into to help Raleigh's condition, is a horrible reality for people every day. Breaking the bank and having to choose between medical expenses or a roof over your head shouldn't be a real thing. The system shouldn't be so broken that people aren't able to receive treatment and are left to die due to disease or stress from soul crushing debt.
Would You Rather isn't the first horror film to tackle capitalism, the ultra wealthy, or being forced into death games. Horror films like Saw VI for example tackles the American healthcare system and how insurance companies don't care who they deny coverage.The Purge films tackle how vulnerable communities would be affected and targeted by the government and citizens. Dawn of the Dead (original or 2004 remake) tackles extreme consumerism and the collapse of society. Ready or Not focuses on maintaining wealth status, classism, and the fears of marrying into a wealthy family.
All of those films range in terms of their satirical nature, but they don't fail to hit their marks. In horror, anything is possible and nearly any topic can be used as a vehicle for a film. Would You Rather is a great film to turn on if you simply want a very bleak death game horror film. But if you want to dig a little deeper and want to think about the social commentary, you won't be disappointed in what the film has to say. It's worth at least one watch or to be added to a watch list.
Remember, don't go to a mysterious dinner party without vetting your hosts and if it feels too good to be true, it most certainly is.
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